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Liverpool heads to Newcastle United on Monday with an intense atmosphere in store. The Alexander Isak saga has not gone down well in the North East.
To make what is always a tough fixture even more difficult, Arne Slot confirmed on Thursday that Jeremie Frimpong is set to be absent until after the September international break with a hamstring injury that he sustained on the opening day against Bournemouth.
Conor Bradley only partially trained with his teammates on Thursday after recoving from an injury of his own, while Joe Gomez has not long returned from an issue that disrupted his pre-season.
Gomez might be able to start the game but is unlikely to be able to play the full 90 minutes. And that will leave Slot with a selection headache to solve given those are all three of his obvious right-back options.
If Gomez is able to play from the off, that seems like the most logical decision to make, though no risks will be taken with his fitness. Giovanni Leoni, the 18-year-old signed from Parma last week, has played full-back before, but throwing him in would be unfair.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo were both name-checked as options to fill in at right-back for Liverpool during Slot's press conference. Both have slotted in there previously.
Endo, though, has limited pace, as evidenced by his performance at right-back when Frimpong got injured against Bournemouth and David Brooks got in behind him. Harvey Barnes is likely to be even trickier to deal with at St James' Park.
Szoboszlai — or even Curtis Jones — would be the more athletic option, and though that would mean losing him from the center of the field, that is an option now that Ryan Gravenberch is back.
Gravenberch could partner Alexis Mac Allister in the middle, with Szoboszlai at right-back and Florian Wirtz as a number 10. Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah would then play wide, with Hugo Ekitike up top.
"I think if you go to Newcastle, you know what to expect," Slot said when previewing the game. "We played them three times last season and twice their intensity levels were above ours.
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"In the away game, especially in the first 60 minutes, they were so, so, so intense and fully deserved to have the lead. In the League Cup final, they were more intense than us as well. So, I don't think they need anything to add for them to be intense if they play at St. James' Park.
"Apart from the intensity, it's a very good team, they have also a team that can make it a fight if you want to call it like this, they have players for this but they also have players that are so comfortable on the ball. So, one of the best teams in the league and one of the most difficult away games you can have in the season, especially as you say here, 'under the lights'."
Liverpool.com says: Szoboszlai moving back to right-back seems like the most likely outcome, either from the beginning or later in the game if Joe Gomez is able to make the starting XI. Endo is another option, but someone with more mobility makes more sense.
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